How Do I Become a Rhinoplasty Specialist?

There are many years of education and training involved when you want to become a rhinoplasty specialist, a career which involves performing plastic surgery. After completing high school or its equivalent, you will usually move on to four years of college followed by another four years of studying to earn a medical degree. Once you graduate from medical school, you will typically have to engage in a plastic surgery residency as well, which provides hands-on training for practicing this type of medicine. Depending on the jurisdiction in which you are preparing for this career, residency training can last for several years.

As with many careers in medicine, the path you will have to take to become a rhinoplasty specialist will likely start with earning a high school diploma or seeking an equivalent credential that is acceptable in your jurisdiction. Then, you will have to gain admission to college and earn a four-year college degree. Since you want to pursue a career in medicine, your first thought may be to enroll in a premedical program or even to choose biology or another science as your major. Any of these choices can prepare you well for medical school, but they are not your only options; many medical schools accept students from a variety of majors.

You will usually need about four years to earn a degree from medical school as you prepare to become a rhinoplasty specialist. During this time, you will likely engage in classroom learning, taking such courses as gross anatomy and biochemistry, but you will usually have other learning experiences as well. For example, in most cases, you also will learn in laboratories and through clinical experiences. Your medical school years may also include an internship, during which you will have patient contact under the supervision of instructors and medical staff.

You will also need hands-on training when you want to become a rhinoplasty specialist. This usually takes place in the form of a residency that trains you in general medicine and surgery followed by another residency that focuses on the plastic surgery specialty. You might also be required to participate in a fellowship, or sub-specialty training, to learn your chosen plastic surgery and rhinoplasty specialty more in depth. Often, a general residency lasts for about four years, and the specialty residence training lasts for another three to four years. Fellowships generally last for a year or two.